Blackout license plate sales raise $12.9M for Indiana BMV modernization

Indiana Capital Chronicle reports the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles has sold more than 380,000 optional “blackout” license plates since the design launched in August 2025, generating $12.9 million that the governor’s office says will be applied to a five-year BMV modernization plan. The governor’s office announced the sales total and funding on 2026-10-05.

The optional blackout plate — white numerals and letters on an all-black background — adds $45 to initial registration and to annual renewals. The agency told the Chronicle that the sales total includes renewals and plate transfers; BMV spokesman Greg Dunn said about 314,000 blackout plates are currently on the road. Officials said the money will fund investments including pay raises for many customer-facing BMV employees, new payment machines that accept tap-to-pay and digital currency, and additional 24/7 BMV Connect kiosks. Governor Mike Braun previously directed a five-year modernization of the agency’s roughly 20-year-old tracking and records software by executive order last year.

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